Radio Nederland Wereldomroep

Dutch news



Dutch abroad failing to integrate

Published: Tuesday 21 April 2009 11:39 UTC
Last updated: Tuesday 21 April 2009 12:11 UTC
A survey conducted by Radio Netherlands Worldwide shows Dutch expats abroad stick together and fail to integrate. Of the 1100 Dutch people living abroad who were questioned, 63 percent differentiated between expats and emigrants. Expats were defined as people living abroad for a time because of their work. Emigrants were people aiming to make the new country their home, sometimes after retirement.

Emigrants, who made up 55 percent of the respondents, are, perhaps not surprisingly, rated far better. They are said to do their best to integrate, and for the most part to succeed. Most of them do not belong to a Dutch club and are not interested in contact with their compatriots.

However, there was some irritation about embassies and consulates not organising contact between the Dutch abroad. Some complained they were never invited to embassy functions.

Even if many people do not find contact with the Dutch community important, the same is not true about the Dutch language. The vast majority of those interviewed said it was a shame if people living abroad failed to make sure their children learnt Dutch.